Motor-vehicle.



Wl. TIBBETTS.

vMOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLlcAJloN FILED Nov 2,1. :914.

lUQ. f Patented May 27, 1919,

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

WJLZness es [rufen/wr;

MMM, if l@ @j @FFEGEQ "-'Ti TBBETTS, O3? DETRI'I, MCHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TOPACKARD MOTOR CAR llllil, 01? DETRIT, MCHIGAN, A CORFORATION OFMICHIGAN.

nioronsvnniotn.

Specification of etters Patent.

'Patented May 2?, 119119.

Application filed November 27, 1914. Serial No.' 874,231.4 i

To .ff/ZZ iv/ioni it may wacom.'

it known that L liliinoN Tnnn'r'rs, a

citizen o' the United States, and resident ot etroit) ivi/rayne county@State of lviichigan,4

have invented certain nen and usciiul linprovenients in Motoieilehicles,et which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relatesl to motor vehicles and partieuiarly to the clutchmechanism thereof.

The clutch mechanism herein shown is of the Jfriction type in which a,spring is provided Jor holding the Clutch elements in' 'riotionalContact tor driving a driven shaft from a driving shaft. Suitableconnections rc provided for compressing the spring ianualiy forreleasing the clutch. in this ie of clutch the engaging parts are sub nis f oi the above reierred to type and to malte them more easilyassembled and disassem# bled.

Other objects of t e invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings 1which forni a part oftl'iis specitioat and in which Figure 1 is a ione section through aclutch nieehan embodying this invention.; and

is a somewhat similar cnlaiaed oi' the invention, Parts tion.

in the forro of easing, which in the form' of the invention illustratedin Fig. 1, is a portion oi base or crank case ot' the mot-or of a etorvelfoie. is the upper part L he levier part of this Granit and betweenthese parts is supported a hearing 12 for the motor crank shaft 13.

the motor wheel secured to the eranlr shaft and housed in an extendedA,ect to Wear and it -is desirable to have those lify the constructionof Clutch mechanismsv portion of said crank case. This extended portion15 of the crank case has a separately formed detachable part 16, whichin fact forms the clutch housing. The part 16 also supports the annularball bearing 17 and thrustbearing 18, which arc alined with the bearing12 for the crank shaft'13. A sleeve 19 detachably secured to the part 16as shown makes the bearings 17 and 18 removable from said part 16 as aunit. lt will be seen that these bearings support a. shaft 2() which isthereby alincd with the crank shaft 13, and for the purposes et' thisinvention the shaft 13 may be termed the driving shaft and the shaft 20the driven shaft.

The part 16 or clutch casing is formed with an opening 21 in its upperwall, which opening is of suitable size to admit the various parts otthe Clutch hereinafter described. 1t is closed by a removable cover 22as shown.

The crank shaft or driving shaft 13 eX- tends sonic distance toward thedriven shaft and is toi-med with a detachable end section or piece T hemain part or section 24 of the driving shaft and the cnd section 23 areeach formed with interlocking teeth 25 and are rigidly but detachablyconnected by a bolt 26 surrounded by a pilot sleeve 27. rihis makes avery secure but detachable connection between the sections 23 and 24' ofthe driving shaft. v v

1t will be seen that While the shafts 13 and 2O are in alinement, yettheir more or less adjacent ends are separated by a space slightlylarger than the Width of the inner cluteh element hereinafter described.The

clutch ehren in this form of the invention.

ot e plate or disk type and the main wh members are in theform of inner`ind outer drums, the inner drum 28 being secured to a lange 29 on thedriven shaft 20, as by bolts 30, and the outer drum'l being secured to aflange 32 on the driving shaft 13 as by bolts 33. Keys 34.- and 35 aresecured to the inner and outer drums or clutch members respectively,rivets 36V being shown for the purpose. An end plate 37 is detachablysecured to the rearward end i the outer drum by the bolts 38. Anotherend plate 39 is provided With suitable keywavs that it may slide on thekeys inside ot the outer drum. A series of clutch plates or disks 40 areprovided With keyways and arranged to's'lide in the outer drivinganddi'iven shafts.

driiiu and to turn ivitli the outer drinn by reason ol the keys f3.7thereof. These plates l() are taeed on both sides with asbestos 41 orother suitable lining inaterial.

' Alternately arranged with the plates $0 are plates 42 which are.similarly keyed to the. inner clutch druni.

ltavill be understood that when the plate 35) is pressed toward theplate S the alternating clutch plates ivill be pressed into closetrietional contact and a driving connection will be iliade between theouter and the, inner clutch iuenibers. For the purpose of-th'us pressingthe plates together, a clamping piece lf3 is provided ha vingclampingfingers ll ivhicli extend through .suitable openings, 475 formed in theweb portion of the outer clutch member or drinn 1ndI into contact Theclamping piece 43 is with the platt` 239. detacliably secured to a.sleeve lli which,

slideel on tliedriving' shaft 1 3 as shown and v is actuated by aspring' .4T surrounding the sections 23 and 2l ot' the driving shaft 13and vvithin said sleeve lo. A nut 4S secures the clamping pie'e to thesleevel against av shoulder laat the rearward end o't said Sleeve. LAnut 50.at theforward-end ot' the sleeve loi'ins au abutnientfor a thrustbeaiing' 51, through which' the `sleeve 4o is operated manually tocompress the spring 4T and surrounding tliejtliruet. lbearing 5l.

is actuated by a pedal lever 55 pii'oted'at-SG and connected totliedvolie by a i'od.

eration by the vehicle driver. Y lt will be understood thatl the clutchis released by depressing the pedal lever, 55 'Y i'vhich draws; therod57rearwardly' and `throws the'sleeve lo foiavardly, thus donipressing thespriiigflZ-- and permittiiig"tlie` plates' on the' clutchineiiibei's'to" rotate inde- I if pendeiitly, or permit one set ofsaidpliites to rotate and the other to remainstationary.

It will also be seen tl'at by'tliiis releasing the clutch andblockingvthe `pedal lever the nut 4S may be backed off and the elainpingpiece 43`1nay be nio'ved forwardly to the position shown in -dottedlines in' Fig. 1.

'llhe outerclute-h member 3l may then be dis connected from the flange32, the plate-37 detached, and the ineinbe-i` 31l inovedforwardly alsoto the positionshown infdotted lin/es. With the clamping piece 'andouter clutch member in the ['jositioiis shown in dotted lilies the bolts30 may be taken o iit and the inner clutch member and allot the platesthereon can be removed. bodily, laterally' through the Space? providedbetween the Tt, will bel observed further thatI there is the driven`shaft, 2Q. By. then reinovingi'thw nut 50. -wardly v"together with thespring 4T and 11e-v .11@ lever extends througlrthe inoto'r velliiele`floor board 5S in suitable. position foropf posi-tions in. which theyare; shown -in dotted l Lamme suheient space between the forward end ofthe ini'ier. clutch driirn and the i'earvvard end ot the driving shaftfor the reinoval otfli'e clutch platesl separately `incliid-inxg"theplates 23T and 39, by simpl sliding them forwardly on the inner clutchmember Aand then ifemov, ing)` theni laterally Vthrough4 that,'.'speeeThus, the clutch platesfmay b e easily ,ref inoved and repaired andreplaced.A 7.-

. Thev inner clutch inenihe'rand the "plates thereon la re iiidieatedi'ndottedlines ast-hey. would appear being removed bodilythro'ugli' the.space described.' `It. \vill be understood ot course' thatI the cover22 '\vill be taltenfo'n t'or that purpoee.-l i 'i 'O After the inn-erclutch drum yand the plates t have been removed, the bolt 26 is thenaeces sible and by removing it,;t.lie end section 23 ot' the; vdrivingshaft and tlie'slee've ,Qlniay also be removed. lThe outer 4clutch drum'31 85 inay then be moved rearwardly from its tele- 'v scoped positionand reiiiioved l laterally th rough the enlarged; spacel -betyvee'n`vthe rear end of the sleeve llt-and tlieffor'vvi'ird end of fv the sleeve6. may' be-drayvnfrear-,-

ino'vedfl .terally throi'ighthe space provide(v between the rearendofthe section 2km? tli'e l driving shaft and the foi-Ward end ofthe- 95,.driveii shaft 20'. The cla'nipi.g piece' i3 inay then beirem'oved inlike -inann-er. n The parts may be assembled by reversing theoperationab'ove described. w .l `llleferrintg" to Fig; 2,;it.will'beseenthat the supporting structurecompi-ieee -the partsr`330,'1'1 and 1G', lwhichv are siniiltirfto tlie'st-riieture shoyvniii-Figpli Other parts` of' the Supporting,structure are not,4 shoiv'ninFig.' 2. .('lther parte .ofythe clutch "melia-nisin' mi ivhieh aresimilaiitokth'ose slioivir inl? ig'.'l 1

have the sanie-niinierals indicating.theiiil,'

' ln the Fig.'2roiistriietion, onlythe'plates are removable laterallylthrough thefspaee provided between the adjacent" Aendsrof the!v driving'and driven shafts.. The inner drinn 2S-is secured to the-driven sliaft()by "the,F bolts 3()a andthe onteryeliiteh member 311 is seiired to`allangeroii the 'end' section 231'of the drivinzg shaft by similarbolts133. rElie H5- section 28a is shown as keyed to .the driving",.`

shaft 13"-by a key 23land' s'eured thereto'by" a suitable boltV 26u? n;

The clainpingpieeefl -is like thatfsl'aovvn i' in Fig. lyandj issimilarlyeeeured to the It will' be understoodthet: the piecejel andthe'outer clutch .member-3l may be moved forwardly totl'ie respeetivelines and each-ox the clutch plates .may then be moved forwardly andwithdrawnjlaterf ally .througlithe space providedbe'tween the ends ofthedriving and di'iijeii Sliattsl @ne of the plates is shown in dotted'lines in posiiso'- neo Y' then be relined and re peming from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, claim. and desire to secure byLetters atenis l. in a motor vehicle, the combination with the motorcrank case having a bearing for crank shaft and an extended poi-- tionsupporting another bearing alined with bearing, of a crank shaftsupportedin the said bearing and having an extension beyond thatbearing, a driven shaft supported in the bearing in the extended portionand separated from said extension, inner and outer ciutch members onsaid shafts respectively', clutch plates engaging to form a drivingconnection between said members, and means whereby said plates may beren'ioved laterally.

2. lin a clutch mechanism, in combination, a supporting structure,spaced bearings arranged in ali-nement in said structure, driving anddriven shafts mounted in said bearings and z :ially spaced from eachother, inner and outer clutch members on said shafts respectivelyextending over said space, clntcn frietionally engaging to form adriving connection between said members, and means permitting relativeaxial movement of the clutch members to uncover said space for thepurpose described.

3. in a clutca mechanism, in combination, a supporting structure, spacedbearings in aiinement in said structure, driving and driven shaftsmounted in said bearings, inner and outer clutch members,v

on said shafts respectively, laterally removable, clutch platesfrictionally engaging to form a driving connection between said members,and means whereby the clutch members may be separated axially to permitlateral removal of the clutch plates.

e. in a clutch mechanism, in combination, a supporting structure,spacedv bearings arranged in alinement in said structnre, driving anddriven shafts mounted in said bearings, inner and outer clutch memberson said shafts respectively, clutch plates frictionally engaging to forma driving connection between said members, and moans connecting saidparts and permitting the withdrawal of the 'outer clutch member on itsshaft so that the inner clutch member and plates may bc bodily removedlaterally; without removing the outer clutch member.

in a clutch mechanism in combination,

ya f mpporting` structure, spaced bearings araced or new ones shaftsrespegtively, clutch` plates frictionally engaging to form a drivingconnection between said members, and means connecting said parts andpermitting the axial withdrawal of the outer clutch member so that theinner clutch member and plates may be bodily removed laterally withoutremoving the outer clutch member, and without movemeht of said shafts intheir bearings.

6. in a clutch mechanism, in combination, adriving shaft, a driven shaftalined therewith and axially separated therefrom, leaving a spacebetween the ends of said shafts, inner and outer clutch members on saidshafts respectively, clutch plates adapted to engage to form a drivingconnection between said members, and means whereby one of said clutchmembers may be moved axially to permit removal of the plates laterallythrough said space.

T. in a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft, a drivenshaft alined therewith and axially separated therefrom, leaving a spacebetween the ends of said shafts, inner and outer clutch members on saidshafts respectively, clutch plates adapted to engage to form a drivingconnection between said members, and means whereby one of said clutchmembers mav be moved axially to permit removal of the other member andsaid plates laterally through said space.

8. in a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft, a drivenshaft alincd therewith and axially separated therefrom, leaving a spacebetween the ends of said shafts, innerand outer clutch members on saidshafts respectively, clutch plates adapted to engage to form a drivingconnection between said mombers, and means whereby one of said clutchmembers may be moved axially to permit removal of thc other memberthrough said space.

9. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a `driving shaft, anindependently mounted alincd driven shaft axially separated tlnprefromleaving a space between the ends ofthe shafts, inner and outer clutchmembers over-hanging said space, clutch plates for forming a drivingconnection between said memlmrs, and means dctachably connecting saidmembers to saidshafts respectively, so that one of said members may betclescoped with its shaft to permit removal of the clutch plateslaterally through said space.

l0. ln ay clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft, a drivenshaft alined therewith and axially separated therefrom, clutch memberson the driving and driven shafts respectively, clutch plates forforining adriving connection between said members, a. clamping piece forpressing said plates together, a sleeve on one of sald shafts foroperating said clamping piece, a spring for actuating said sleeve, andmeans connecting said sleeve and clamping piece to perniit telescopingof the clamping piece and one of said clutch membersevith the shaft onwhich said sleeve is mounted, whereby the lclutch plates may be removedlaterally between the ends of the shafts.

ll. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft having adetachable end section,` a driven shaft alinedwtherewith, and axiallyseparated therefrom, a clutch member detachably secured to thedetachable end section, a clutch, member detachably secured to thedriven shaft, clutch plates for forming a driving con nection betweensaid members, a clamping piece for pressing said plates together, asleeve on the driving shaft to which said clamping piece is detachablyconnected, a spring for actuating said sleeve, and means for nmnuallyshifting said sleeve against said spring to release the clutch.

l2. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft having adetachable end section, a driven shaft 'alined there with and axiallyseparated therefrom, a clutch member detachably secured to thedetachable end section, a clutch member detachably secured to the drivenshaft, clutch plates for forming a driving connection be` tween saidmembers, a clamping piece for pressing said lplates together, a sleeveon the driving sh'aft to which said clamping piece is detachablyconnected, a spring for actuatin said sleeve, and means for manuallyshifting said sleeve against said spring to release the clutch, theparts being so arranged that the clamping piece and driving clutchmember may be detached from their respective supports and moved axiallyon the driving shaft to permit removal of the plates and other clutchmember laterally between the ends of the shafts.

'13. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving shaft having adetachable end section, a driven shaft alined therewith and axiallyseparated therefrom, a clutch member detachably secured to thedetachable end section, a clutch member detachably secured to the drivenshaft, clutch plates for forming a driving connection be tween saidmembers, a ,clamping piece for pressing said plates together, a sleeveon the driving shaft to which said clamping piece is detachablyconnected, a spring for actuating said sleeve and means for manuallyshifting said sleeve against said spring to release. the clutch, theparts being so arranged that the driven clutch member,

the driving clutch member and the clamp-l ing piece may be removed inorder laterally1 between the ends of the shafts.

In testimony whereotl I aiiix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

MILTON TIBBET'IS.

`Witnesses: i Y

La Roi d. VIIMAMS, CLAIR J. COTE.

